Wedding Portraits

A Formal Affair

Even as a Candid Wedding Photographer one cannot ignore the importance of formal portraiture during weddings. Formal Wedding Portraits are an integral part of weddings and while candid photography has been the buzzword for a decade now, formal portraits have existed since the inception of wedding photography itself and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

Wedding portraits have evolved in the last decade and have been immensely influenced by different styles. A decade back formal portraits at weddings would be primarily on the stage with flat lighting, lit by two lights on either side. The idea was to make sure everyone is well lit and devoid of shadows on the face and the expressions were serious, semi serious to slightly relaxed.

With the advent of technology, which brought various options of lighting quickly and effectively outdoors, the formal portrait has also moved outdoor. Portable ‘off camera’ flashes and strobes have made life easier for photographers wanting to experiment with ambient and artificial lighting. The Profoto lights we use are about best in the business. They are light, portable, consistent in terms of output intensity and color. This is extremely important as in most cases we get about 10-15 minutes to pull of a series of shots and one doesn’t want to miss shots due to flash misfiring or inconsistent output.

Photographers and clients are now more comfortable with creative lighting, with a play of lights and shadows, with different angles, with postures which are more natural and flowing rather than rigid. The formal wedding portrait is moving towards a separate art form. Pre-wedding and post-wedding shoots have also emerged as an important part of the overall wedding portfolio and are evolving as an ‘informally posed’ genre.

We at thirdeyestudio believe that the formal wedding portrait should be artistic, in terms of usage of light, composition and expression. Years of experience is helpful in pulling off artistic shots even in tight situations, spaces and limited time. The following shots are from a wedding we recently shot in Bangalore, India. Many thanks to the family members who love being photographed and were accommodative to all our requests.

Send us an email at thirdeyestudio.net@gmail.com and let us talk about your big day!